Ebele Akpeh — Nine men were Wednesday arraigned before a Lagos High Court, Ikeja presided over by Justice Morenike Obadina for allegedly defrauding African Petroleum (AP) Plc of over N200 million through various banks.

The defendants were dragged to court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on a 12-count charge of alleged conspiracy, stealing and fraud of which they had all pleaded not guilty to the said offence.

At the resumed hearing of the suit, counsel to EFCC, Mr. Francis Usani told the court that they have amended information dated January 12, 2008 of which they had only nine out of their 11 defendants in court, urging the court to strike out the names of the other two defendants who are absent for other defendants to take their plea.

The judge, however, struck out the two defendants (the third and fourth defendants respectively) while the other nine were arraigned before the court.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants had on August 27, 2008 in Apapa within the Ikeja judicial division with intent to defraud conspired to steal the sum of N110, 274, 400.00 from First Bank Nigeria plc, Ijora branch, property of African Petroleum Plc and offence of stealing contrary to section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap. C 17 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.

"That you Ray Uba, Felix Okoil, Onyebuchi Moses, Nojim Oshifade, Ini Noah, Adebayo Okhio, Sesan Awonuga, Yemi Adegbuyi, Macdonald Nyeche, Timothy Adesanya, (at large) Victor Osawe, (at large) Kazeem Timiyu (still at large) and Adebowale Johnson (still at large) on or about August 27, 2008 in Apapa within the Ikeja judicial division with intent to defraud stole a First Bank of Nigeria plc Cheque No. 17262608 dated August 19, 2008 valued at N3,300,000.00 (three million three hundred thousand Naira only) which you paid into account No. 0150478172518 at Afribank plc belonging to Adebowale Johnson and obtained the value in the sum of N3, 300, 000.00 property of African Petroleum plc. Stealing contrary to section 390 of the Criminal Code Cap C17 Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003," one of the charge read.

After their pleas were taken, counsels to the defendants applied for bail for their clients on a very liberal term but counsel to EFCC vehemently opposed the court granting the defendants' bail.

The presiding judge, however, adjourned till February 2, for ruling on the bail application while fixing February 17, for the trial of the case.